The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has completed preparations for the launch of its Operational Plan for Public Transit Means and Traffic Management to mark the New Year’s celebrations in Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa featuring special services to all community segments, visitors, and tourists hailing from all corners of the globe to celebrate the occasion in Dubai amid the fine weather seen by the UAE these days.

Ahmed Mohammed Al Hammadi, Head of the team dealing with public transport systems, metro and taxis during official & annual events, said: “The metro will be operating round-the-clock starting from 06:00 am on 31/12/2012 up to 01/01/2013 where it is anticipated to lift more than 132 thousand passengers on that day. The service will be running at a 2.5 minutes headway (frequency) during peak hours and 8 minutes during off peak hours.

“Around 10,000 additional parking slots will be provided by using 2000 parking slots from the parking lot of the Dubai World Trade Center, and 8000 slots from Meydan Parking space. 20 directional signage will be erected to guide the public to the locations of additional car-parks, and more buses will be deployed to shuttle from the parking lots to the events venue. 20 directional signage will be erected to direct the traffic to use the local roads in the Business Bay district to access Sheikh Zayed Road in order to ease the pressure on the Financial Center Road. The Boulevard Road will be closed at 06:00 pm to avoid vehicular congestion when the timing of fireworks approaches, and accordingly leave the road clear for the traffic exiting the venue once celebrations are over. One lane will be kept open for the exclusive use of emergencies and police vehicles. Special entry points will be designated for VIPs, restaurant visitors and those who had prior booking arrangements. Traffic signals on the Financial Center Road will be monitored to ensure smooth traffic flow during peak times, and 15 members of the Plan Operation Team will be deployed at site to coordinate the implementation of the proposed plan with the Police & Emaar, carry out necessary closures, and use Virtual Messaging Signs to direct road users in the event of any snarls, or display alerts when the Dubai Mall parking is full.

“40 feeder buses will be deployed at the Dubai Metro Stations as follows: 10 buses for Burj Khalifa Station, 10 buses for the Financial Center Station, 10 buses for the Business Bay Station, 6 buses for the parking of the World Trade Center, and 4 buses at the Parking of Meydan. Buses will be operating round-the-clock in conjunction with the metro operation and commuting on 9 routes. Metro stations feeder buses are slated to lift 15 thousand passengers in 370 trips,” elaborated Al Hammadi.

About the taxi service on the eve of the New Year, Al Hammadi said: “To ensure the deployment of a sufficient number of taxicabs as soon as possible, the RTA has designated lanes exclusively for these vehicles, and also endorsed additional overflow parking at Etisalat at Jafliah, World Trade Center and Meydan. During the day, taxis are expected to lift about 93 thousand passengers through 53 thousand trips. Emaar will provide 24 tents at Burj Khalifa for selling Nol cards to the public in order to encourage them to use public transit means.

The Head of the team dealing with public transport systems, metro and taxis during official & annual events, concluded his remarks by thanking the General HQ of Dubai Police and Emaar for their effective cooperation with the RTA and contribution to RTA efforts, and shaping the tourist profile of the Emirate turning it into a premier business, financial, service and tourist in the region.